Department for Business and Trade

Aviation: Taxis

Lord Naseby: To ask His Majesty's Government why a grant of £8 million was recently paid to Vertical Aerospace to develop a flying taxi company at a time when the firm faced material uncertainty.

Lord Offord of Garvel: A research consortium led by Vertical Aerospace, including four universities, was awarded an Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme grant to develop propeller technology.The ATI Programme co-funds UK research and development activity with industry to develop zero-carbon and ultra-efficient aircraft technology. Grants are awarded after a competitive process, with only the best projects recommended - those that offer real innovation, emissions reduction and tangible economic benefits to the UK.Due diligence checks are completed ahead of all awards, with grants paid in arrears based on activity delivered against an agreed plan. Safeguards are in place in the event of business failure.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Afghanistan: Taliban

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government how many Taliban leaders they have sanctioned using Magnitsky-style sanctions since 2021; and how many sanctions they have imposed in response to the suppression of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK continues to meet our obligations under the United Nations sanctions regime relating to Afghanistan through the Afghanistan Sanctions (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, which came into force on 31 December 2020. The Government has not introduced any Global Human Rights sanctions against the Taliban since they took power in 2021, but we keep all evidence and potential designations under close review. More broadly, officials from the UK Mission to Afghanistan regularly press Taliban acting ministers on human rights abuses in Afghanistan, including against women and girls.

Iraq: Development Aid

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government what checks and balances they have in place to ensure that funding to the government of Iraq does not benefit organisations such as the Popular Mobilisation Forces, or any Iranian-backed organisations operating in Iraq.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Our funding and support is delivered through implementing partners and not directly through the Government of Iraq. Thorough due diligence assessment of all funding is carried out to ensure partners have procedures in place to manage the main risks of aid diversion from activities it funds, including specific controls to ensure that assistance goes direct to the intended beneficiaries.

Hamas: Sexual Offences

Lord Turnberg: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of allegations of rape of Israeli women by members of Hamas in its attack on 7 October 2023, and the implications for international law.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Reports of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October 2023 detail abhorrent acts of violence against Israeli women and girls. The UK stands in solidarity with all of the victims and survivors.We condemn sexual violence unequivocally and without exception. These reports must be fully investigated to ensure justice for survivors and victims.The international community should be clear in condemning sexual violence wherever it occurs, including in Israel.Conflict-related sexual violence is an abuse of human rights and when perpetrated in the context of an armed conflict, can constitute a violation of international humanitarian law such as a war crime.

Gaza: UNRWA

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have spoken to Israeli authorities concerning the incident on 18 March when Philippe Lazzarini, theUnder-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Commissioner-General of UNRWA, was denied entry to Gaza; and what assessment they have made of the incident.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are aware of the situation referenced in the question.The UK Government continues to press Israel for increased access for aid, an expansion of the types of aid allowed into Gaza, and for increased capacity inside Gaza.

Darfur: Vaccination

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the warning by Médecins Sans Frontières of a critical vaccine shortage in Darfur, and what steps they are taking in response.

Lord Benyon: We are concerned by reports of critical vaccine shortages in Darfur. The UK continues to provide support to the health sector in Sudan through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF). We are also supporting Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in their essential work to improve access to vaccines for the world's most vulnerable children. However, access constraints and insecurity are limiting the ability of partners to deliver in many areas, including Darfur. We continue to work with the UN, other donors and trusted partners to improve and increase the delivery of aid across Sudan. The Minister for Development and Africa met Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on the Sudan/Chad border in late March and saw the vital work on vaccinations performed there.

Sudan: Malnutrition

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the estimate by the General Coordination of Camps for the Displaced and Refugees in Sudan that over 560 children have died from malnutrition during the last 11 months of the war in that country, and of UNICEF’s prediction that 700,000 Sudanese children will suffer severe malnutrition in 2024, and what steps they are taking in response.

Lord Benyon: We remain a committed donor to Sudan and provided £42.6 million in humanitarian aid to support people there in 2023-2024, including £12.2 million to UNICEF for lifesaving nutrition activities. In this new financial year, UK bilateral ODA to Sudan will nearly double to £89 million. Funding for South Sudan was increased to £7.75 million, which includes £3.5 million for food security in the Maban refugees camps. The lack of humanitarian access continues to make it extremely difficult for humanitarian organisations to provide the necessary levels of assistance. On 8 March, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2724, led by the UK, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan during the month of Ramadan and underlining the urgency of humanitarian access. We condemn the fact that the warring parties have not heeded this Resolution.

Darfur: Gender Based Violence

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to assist women and girls subjected to sexual violence in Darfur in Sudan.

Lord Benyon: Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, there has been a significant escalation of gender-based violence (GBV) in Sudan. The UK has pivoted our programme delivery to focus on GBV prevention, and protection and care for rape survivors. We have also integrated consideration of conflict-related sexual violence into the humanitarian system, making use of Women's Centres, mobile clinics and internally displaced persons' gathering points, for community engagement and service provision. In 2023, UK support provided for the delivery of 83,399 consultations offering sexual and reproductive health services, and delivered mental health and psychological support to over 104,225 people.

South Sudan: Droughts

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports from UNICEF that the 2023–24 El Niño phenomenon has led to the closure of schools in South Sudan.

Lord Benyon: The El Niño phenomenon exacerbates regional climate patterns and extreme weather events. Last month, excessive heat caused the temporary closure of some schools in South Sudan. The UK is one of the largest donors to education in South Sudan: we engage closely with the government, UNICEF, and education partners and will monitor the impact of interruptions to education. Our Humanitarian Assistance and Resilience in South Sudan programme has assisted approximately three million people by providing critical life-saving support and helping people to better cope with shocks from conflict, drought and flooding.

East Africa and Southern Africa: Droughts

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of the prolonged heatwave and drought on eastern and southern Africa, in particular on children, and what steps they are taking in response.

Lord Benyon: We closely monitor climatic conditions in Africa - including recent drought conditions in parts of Eastern and Southern Africa, where over 80 million people are experiencing crisis levels of food insecurity. In 2023 the UK was the 4th largest bilateral donor to humanitarian appeals in sub-Saharan Africa. Our programmes in the region are directly tackling food insecurity and poor access to safe water, in order to improve the nutritional and health status of children. The UK is also raising the profile of humanitarian needs with our international partners, maintaining a focus on the need for long-term solutions to climate related crises in the region, including drought.